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Guide

Decrypting Messages

Decrypt PGP-encrypted emails, files, and text with your private key.

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Before you start

You’ll need:

  • Your private key imported into iPGMail (Import keys →)
  • Your passphrase for that key

Decrypt an email attachment

When someone sends you an encrypted .pgp, .gpg, or .asc file:

  1. Open the email in your Mail app
  2. Tap the encrypted attachment
  3. Tap the Share button (square with upward arrow)
  4. Select iPGMail from the list
  5. Enter your passphrase when prompted
  6. View the decrypted message

Decrypt inline PGP text

Some emails contain encrypted text directly in the message body instead of an attachment. It looks like this:

-----BEGIN PGP MESSAGE-----

jA0ECQMCvK3V8P7k...
-----END PGP MESSAGE-----

To decrypt:

  1. In your email app, select and copy the entire block (from -----BEGIN through -----END-----)
  2. Open iPGMail
  3. Go to the Decode tab
  4. Tap Import — iPGMail reads from your clipboard automatically
  5. Enter your passphrase

Decrypt a file

For encrypted files from the Files app, Dropbox, or other sources:

  1. Locate the .pgp or .gpg file
  2. Tap and hold, then select Share
  3. Choose iPGMail
  4. Enter your passphrase
  5. The decrypted file is saved to iPGMail’s documents

Common issues

“No matching private key”The message was encrypted to a different key. Check which key was used and import it.
“Bad passphrase”Re-enter carefully. Passphrases are case-sensitive.
“Invalid PGP data”The file may be corrupted or not actually PGP-encrypted.

More troubleshooting →